APRIL 10
C RY D E R
P O I N T
Photo of the Month
This month’s Photo of the Month appears on the
cover. Leo Gloumis took the beautiful picture at 4am
on March 2, back when the world seemed normal. It
seems apropos at this time to share a slice of serenity
through his picture and those presented here. Thanks
to Leo as well as Eileen Annechino and Marsha Gellert
for their contributions this month.
Since we’re all hunkered down these days, I won’t do
my usual “nagging” about people submitting pictures.
That said, if you do venture out for a walk alone (or six
feet apart) and happen to see something that catches
your eye, please take a photo. It is spring, after all, and
a few pictures to remind us of nature’s beauty are always
good for the spirit.
A reminder about the contest rules:
The photographer must be a resident of Cryder
Point, and all photos must of the property or of a view
from the property. They also must be current, that is,
taken no more than a couple of months before you
submit them.
Any description of where you were on the property,
the day of week or time of day…any details that you
can provide which bring your neighbors into the moment
of the photo…are eagerly welcomed.
Submit your pictures to jdavis@qns.com and yours
might be selected to be featured in the paper. Please be
sure to put “Cryder Point Photo” in the subject line of
your email and include the full name of the photographer
Nighttime, 3/1/2020
Photo by Marsha Gellert
Ship, 3/10/2020
Photo by Marsha Gellert
and an approximate date of the picture.
5 tips to protect your network from
hackers when staying at home
(BPT) - Being home 100% of the time has become the
new norm for many Americans, as social distancing is
implemented in communities across the country to slow
the rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic. Connected
devices are being used virtually nonstop, as the homebound
stream shows to binge watch and video chat with
friends to help pass the time. Unfortunately, most residential
computing networks aren’t regularly maintained
and monitored to protect against security breaches. This
presents hackers with a virtual playground of which to
take advantage.
“Cybercriminals are continuously looking for ways to
exploit computer system vulnerabilities and home networks
are popular targets because so many of our devices
- phones, TVs, computers, even appliances - are
connected to them,” said Jane Li, Mercury Insurance
director of product management. “Insurance companies
like Mercury provide solutions to help financially protect
homeowners and renters if they fall victim to a cyberattack.
There are also steps they can take ahead of time to
help prevent one from happening in the first place.”
Following are five tips to protect your home network -
and the devices connected to it - from hackers.
Power down your devices
This disables the internet connection, cutting off access
to any personal information stored on your computer,
tablet or phone. Unattended machines are easy targets
for hackers, especially if you’re asleep.
Secure your wireless network
Information accessed on an open network, including
email passwords and sensitive bank information, is fair
game for hackers. Don’t make their jobs easier - protect
your Wi-Fi network with a strong password that’s difficult
to guess. Wireless routers that are issued by cable providers
10 CRYDER POINT COURIER | APRIL 2020 | WWW.QUEENSCOURIER.COM
are typically assigned a network name and password
that’s easily located on a label on the device itself. These
can be changed using your online account, so do this as
soon as possible for added security.
Invest in anti-malware software
Malware - or malicious software - can be installed on
your computer without your knowledge so hackers can
damage your system, steal personal information or restrict
your access to extort money from you. Anti-malware
software helps protect against, detect and remove
malware, stopping cybercriminals from doing further
damage. Also, avoid downloading music or video files
from suspicious websites, and clicking on links or email
attachments in messages sent from unknown senders to
help prevent malware from infiltrating your system.
Install recommended updates
Smartphone, computer, tablet and smart TV manufacturers,
among other providers of connected devices, offer periodic
software updates to protect against potential security
breaches. Chances are, if an update is recommended, hackers
have already discovered a way to access your personal
property and information, so keep your software up-to-date.
Set your devices to install auto-updates when possible.
Beware of phishing scams
Phishing scams aren’t new, but hackers continually use
more sophisticated email - and even text messages - to
trick people into providing their personal information.
Once again, do not click on the links or attachments in
messages from unknown senders.
Li suggests homeowners and renters consider adding
Home Cyber Protection to their existing policies as
an additional way to protect against hackers. “Even the
most vigilant individuals can experience a cybersecurity
breach,” said Li. “Having coverage to help recoup financial
losses that are brought on by cyberextortion or stolen
personal information can offer peace of mind during an
otherwise stressful time.”
BY JILL DAVIS
Dawn, 3/8/2020 Photo by Eileen Annechino Sunset, 4/2/2020 Photo by Marsha Gellert
link
/WWW.QUEENSCOURIER.COM
link
